Whose Day Tuesday

Name: Dani B.

Family Stats: Husband, 2 kids (20 & 14), 2 dogs

Spiritual Gifts: Serving, Encouragement, Faith

Spiritual Pathway: Intellectual, Relational, Serving, Worship & Creation

Passions: Growing in Christ and helping others do the same

Pet Peeves: Bicyclists in street

Secret Shames: My relationships are a mess

Books That You Love: Bible and Bible Studies (anything about God)

Can’t Live Without: God

Favorite Room In Your House: Bedroom

Favorite Tradition: Family gatherings on birthdays and holidays

Memorize-It Monday

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
~Hebrews 10:25

Focus Friday

Let's begin to practice individual fasting in secret as well. In your table discussion, what individual issue struck you? Make a plan to fast and pray for that person in private. Pray that the power in the fast will bring release from oppression. Pray that God will let you see clearly how He responded to your fasting and praying for that person.

Think on it Thursday

FASTING


In our culture, we have many things that offer us comfort, although fleeting.
What brings you joy after a hard day? Is it a shopping spree, oreos and milk,
popcorn and a movie, perusing the internet or sinking under
the covers and taking a nap? This may be my list, but we all have our own.

God wants to be your provider. He has much to offer us if we would only come to Him, and His joy completes us in a way nothing else can.
Sometimes we have to stop running to our own provisions so we can lean on Him and accept what He has to offer.

As a mother we give all day long.
Did you know you have a creator that wants to give to YOU all day long?
He calls to you,
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some REST.”
Mark 6:31

He will RENEW you (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
He will ENCOURAGE you (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
He will STRENGTHEN you (Zechariah 10:12)
He will show you GRACE and COMPASSION (Isaiah 30:18)
He will show you the WAY (Isaiah 30:21-22)
He will RESCUE you (Isaiah 46:3-4)

I need all of these things, but I often search for them in all the wrong places.
Join me this week in giving up something that gives you temporary comfort so
you can rely on Jesus to meet your need. Try spending 10 minutes a day reading his word and asking Him to comfort you. You can begin by looking up the scriptures above.

He promises you this,

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13

~written by Rachel McKenna

Wisdom Wednesday

For today's Power Point Presentation, click HERE.

To access Deb Dambacher's Bible Study on fasting for further study, click HERE.

Discussion Questions:
1. What in your life are you mourning right now?
2. What situation do you see in your neighborhood or your community that is clearly bound by chains of injustice or cords of yoke?
3. As a group, consider taking one of these issues and developing a plan for a group fast. We're all different so take the freedom to individually choose the type of fast (what food, activity, how long) that would be best for you. The important thing is that you commit and can complete it, not that you are all doing that same thing. Remember to include your prayer in your plan.

Whose Day Tuesday

Name: Lynn H.

Family Stats: Married to Grady, 3 kids—Dylan 10, Nick 8, Grace 2

Spiritual Gifts: Mercy, Hospitality, Helps

Spiritual Pathway: Serving, Worship, Activist

Passions: Kids, families, new moms, teen moms

Pet Peeves: Gossip, bad language (curse words)

Secret Shames: Starbucks

Books That You Love: Something Borrowed, She’s Come Undone, The Shack, Redeeming Love, Jesus Calling

Can’t Live Without: Sleep, music

Favorite Room In Your House: Daughter’s room

Favorite Tradition: Looking at Christmas lights with hot chocolate, pj’s and Christmas carols. Reading Christmas books with the kids each day in December. Valentine’s Day: a note on everyone’s plate at dinner that tells them what I love about them.

Memorize-It Monday

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
~Isaiah 58: 6,9

Guest Speaker-Deb Dambacher

Guest Speaker: Debra Dambacher

Family stats: I’ve been married for a long time and God has been so faithful in working through some very serious marital and individual issues to keep our marriage together and bring us closer and closer.  We have one son who now lives in London with our daughter-in-law and our two granddaughters.  Thanks to God’s intervention, literally, we have been able to spend a lot of time together despite the distance.  But that is another story.

Spiritual gifts: Faith, mercy, helps

Spiritual Pathways: Contemplative, Worship

Passions: Because of the events in my life as a prodigal, I am passionate about the spiritual healing that Jesus brings us.  When He introduced Himself and His ministry, He said this:  “I have come to heal the brokenhearted, bring freedom to the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to comfort all who mourn, to bestow on them a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”  That is what He has done in my life and He wants to do it in yours, too!

Secret shames:  These are the things that hold us captive, that we hide and repress…the places in our heart where He wants to bring healing.  God wants truth in our innermost being and He wants to bring freedom.  In my life, those shames have been a sense of worthlessness, deceitfulness, self-soothing from substances, disloyalty, fear, self-righteousness, abandonment, and on and on.  But He’s brought healing.  No more secrets, no more shame, just freedom and honesty, thanks to Him.

Book that you love:  It has to be Psalms, from the Bible.  These poems and songs capture the depth of emotion we all have and with it open a window into God’s faithfulness.  (OK just so you don’t think I’m over-spiritualizing, I am currently reading the third in a 3 volume biographical series on Theodore Roosevelt.  But if I was on a deserted island with only one book, it would be Psalms.)

Favorite things: Books.  I love to read, I love to learn.

Favorite room in your house:  Living room – it’s a place that I have experienced many intimate moments with Jesus as I have cried out to him in times of desperation or have expressed my thankfulness to Him for what He has done.

Favorite tradition:  For twelve years now, my husband and I have gone to a friend’s house each November and prepare a Thai meal for the family while they decorate for Christmas.  Their daughters grew up with it and now as teenage girls, they have given up sleepovers and parties because they do not want to miss the evening!  The tradition ties us together in ways that just routine interaction does not.

Focus Friday

Create a time of complete quiet at home or away, get comfortable,  unplug everything. Listen. Ask God to show you or tell you something  about…. 

--a specific challenge you are facing in a relationship

--something about yourself  that you  desire to change

--something that worries you

--a decision you need to make

--a prayer that has not been answered or answered differently than you expected

Devote 20-30 minutes of limited talking and more listening to what God might have to say to you. Clear your mind of distractions, but have a pencil or pen/paper handy in case you need to write something down and clear your thoughts . Spend the time just feeling relaxed, let everything go. Give God your worries, anxieties, the mountains in your life. Just you and Him in the quiet.

Think On It Thursday

Breast Cancer Survivor…a tag I wear with joy, gratitude, and frankly some pride.  Joyful to be past it, grateful for doctors, nurses, and those women who went before me who suffered far more than I ever did, and with pride because, well, I get special shirts and recognition for something that I really had nothing to do with.

But ‘survivor’, for me, was a passive term.  I turned myself over to a group of qualified, but complete strangers.  I was radiated, cut, poked and infused.  I had blood drawn, tests run, was examined and comforted.  Honestly, the medical part of the experience required nothing of me except my body’s presence at the times and places not of my choosing.

Yes, I have scars and lymph edema. Yes, I lost all of my hair, yes, everywhere.  When I lost my eyebrows and lashes, I looked a bit like a newborn hamster. Yes, I was radiated until parts of my chest feel like chicken that has been overcooked in a microwave, but all in all, I simply had to show up.  Now I’m all better and I’ve been in celebration mode since the 5^th anniversary of my diagnosis in August.

So, what does this have to do with Jesus?  Everything.  The physical part of my cancer took its toll as it does with every person whose health is compromised.  But that was the easy part.  No one would say, “Gee, cancer was a piece of cake,” but I am here to tell you that with Jesus, it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to a person either.

One of Paul’s letters was to the church in Philippi.  Paul wrote to those folks encouraging them to keep up their faithful work.  He told them to rejoice, even in suffering as he had.  In the last chapter of this short letter, Paul speaks volumes in 4 verses:

         6-7“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

         8“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

         9”Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.”

Now, there’s a sermon!  But how did that work for me?

My cancer was not the first cancer we experienced.  It was not the first time that we learned how cancer may grow in one body, but it can make friends, spouses, children, feel just as stricken.  We lost my dad in 1993 and then my mother-in-law in 1996. Both had cancer.

Taking that August phone call, “I’m sorry, the biopsy results were positive.  You have cancer,” then holding my husband as I told him, was rough. The next hardest part was telling my mother and then my children. 

What happened next was what I would call a left- handed blessing.  I only knew 4 people in Kansas City, (one being my husband) and we had left behind children, friends, and a great church family.  But here, we were more alone that we had ever been.  Alone, but not left alone.  God had gone before us and prepared a place and a new set of friends and a church family for us.

Just a couple of weeks before my surgery, we attended and fell in love with Heartland. Basically we walked in, said, “Hi, we have cancer and we need some friends,” and the flood gates opened.  When I got home from surgery, 4 women I had so recently met arrived with food, food, cards, flowers, and more food. Until I could drive, they drove me here and there when Greg had to travel for work.  Later, they drove me to and from chemo and made sure I was settled on the couch before leaving. 

Paul would remind me that my heart and my mind were protected and the God of peace was with me. 

But, God kept whispering to me to be more than a survivor.  He reminded me to think about things that were true, admirable, praiseworthy, and lovely.  So I did. 

What is true?  God loves me.  He didn’t give me cancer to test me or teach me.  We live in a fallen, imperfect world and our bodies are part of that world.  Those cells were not His doing, but they were an opportunity to learn to trust Him more, to share His joy, and to praise Him for what He has done.  Later, I could go and encourage others.  I became the go-to gal for anyone with cancer.  Every few weeks someone at church would introduce me a woman with tears in her eyes and we would hug, talk, and pray.  We call it our wonderful, stupid sisterhood.

People prayed for me and they got to see God do some of His best work.  We learned to lean on Him and Him alone, not people or traditions, but Him.  I could just lay back and feel the love of Jesus surrounding me.  I can best describe it as a hammock, swaying gently and completely surrounding me, letting me rest and heal.

What is lovely and praiseworthy?  Devoted doctors and those wonderful nurses who daily stick countless people with needles to pump poisons into their bodies to kill cancer cells.  They bring juice, pillows, warm blankets, and love.  You’ve heard the phrase, Jesus with skin on.  There is a lot of that in cancer centers and thinking of that makes me feel blessed.

The God of peace and His wonderful son Jesus have been at my side, in surgery, taking chemo and radiation, letting me rest and heal in a very real way. Yes, I had my pain, my unsettled stomach, my weariness, but I was never alone.

I know not every cancer or even illness story ends as sweetly as mine has.  I know many have prayed for peace and healing and the answer has not been what they want or expect.  Some of you may be ill now or love someone who is.  But what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy is this:

Jesus loves you.  He is love.  He has never left you and He never will.  Even through pain, biopsies, uncertainty, sadness and fear, He is never away from your side. 

I cling to Him and His love and grace when I am well as desperately as I did when I was not.  He wants to help you be a survivor, surviving this earthly life to be with Him forever. If your forever hasn’t already started, it is my prayer that it will begin, today, here and now.  You will always be loved!

~Jennifer James

Lenten Tree

Thanks to Liz S. for introducing us to a great Lenten Tree family activity to help bring to life the Biblical truths associated with the Easter season. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22nd so read up and get your Lenten Tree prepared. The book titled, "The Lenten Tree", is available in the Heartland book store. They have a few in stock and you can place an order for more as well.

To print your own Lenten Tree ornaments, click HERE. Thanks, Liz S.!

Wisdom Wednesday

Click HERE to read or print an inspired devotion/Bible study from today's speaker, Maggi Pivovar (contents in this blog post, below).

Discussion Questions:
1. What is the "mountain" in your life?
2. If you could give God one small thing that troubles you and trust Him with it, what would it be?
3. What is one positive health-related decision you can make for your family today?
4. Have you ever been disappointed or angry that a situation didn't turn out the way you desired?
  a. Looking back on that situation now, do you see anything positive, any blessings, from it?
  b. If not, what would you say to God about that, what would you ask Him to show you?

Answers To Prayers

During the last 5 years, I haven’t been able to stand in my own strength very well. The weakness and feelings of discouragement and despair were too much for me to get out of on my own for a very long time.

When I didn’t know where to go, when I didn’t know what to do, when I didn’t know what to say , when I didn’t know how to get through the day, when I didn’t know how to get through the next 5 minutes, I asked for God to help me.

It would not be real if I said I was in the Word and praying constantly during the times of deep despair and difficulty. I wasn’t. I couldn’t. Instead, I drew on what I had already learned about God. Faithful? Always. Trustworthy? Absolutely. Cares for me? Intimately. Hears me? Every time. Does God answer my prayers exactly how I ask and does He give me what I am asking for? He does in His way and through His will, knowing what is best for me, and giving what is best for me.

So, I cried out for what I wanted and needed, knowing He would answer in His timing and with His will. And whatever way He answered, I expressed my thankfulness Sometimes, I didn't understand why the answer seemed to be “NO,” or “Wait,” and I had to remind myself that there are many things I do not understand, but to continue to put my faith and trust in Him.

When I was a child, my prayers were “Help me pass the test.” “Don’t let my grandma die” “Make this person better.” I didn’t know about God’s will. I didn’t know he always wanted the best for me, as a parent would a child. To me, he was a far away God that didn’t know me. It was also me that didn’t know him. 

I had learned to trust and have faith already through many things—cancer, infertility, husband’s unemployment and financial difficulties, So, when I was so overwhelmed, facing a long and painful recovery, sad and feeling nothing but despair, and I couldn’t seem to connect with God, or even those the very closest to me, I relied on what I already knew about him, and I simply asked, “God Help!” It was a short and simple prayer, and all I could say. But it was enough. 

Read Deuteronomy 31: 7-10 and also 1 John 5:14

Mediocrity

Mediocrity in effort often brings mediocre results.
Success and achievement are things rarely obtained by luck. Usually, success comes from failure, effort, relentless pursuit, passion, and focus. Focusing on one thing at a time, or one theme at a time increases the odds of success when you pour most of your effort, pursuit in passion into that one thing. Take dog training for example. Mediocre effort and inconsistency with training will likely result in a mediocre dog that won't come when you call it.

Recovery from an accident, illness or tragedy is long and difficult. Mediocre effort here, too can bring mediocre results. Pushing myself to do more, in relentless pursuit of my former life is how I got my life back. A different life in many ways, but a rich life, a happy life and a wonderful life.

When the road is exhausting, and it seems like it would be easier to quit, I remember Isaiah 40:31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

What in your life is getting “mediocre effort”?  Where do you need to look for God’s strength, when your own strength is not enough?

Read Isaiah 40:31 and 2Corinthians 4:8-10

How To Spot a Blessing

Robert Schuler, in his book, What Happens to Good People When Bad Things Happen, said that "Sometimes blessings come in most unexpected ways." I have often wondered how many countless blessings come my way every day that I do not even see. Many times, I have hit a low spot and just when I am ready to give up, something good happens. I do not believe these "good" things are mere coincidences. I believe that they are God's way of using the people and things of this world to uplift and encourage me to keep going. Of course, they mean nothing if I do not have my eyes and heart open to see them.

What do they look like? They come in different forms. Sometimes, they can be an annoyance (designed to delay me) in order for me to be in the right place at the right time. An interruption can be the very best thing if it helps me meet someone I am supposed to meet or see something I might have otherwise not noticed. Most of the time, when it is happening, I can't see anything. It is when I think about it later, and what would have happened if I had been there a minute later, or a second earlier that I realize I would have missed it if the situation happened any differently. The slow driver that was in front of me for 15 minutes, the kid who can't find his shoes, the length of time my mother keeps me on the phone....could all be for a purpose. I may never know what the purpose was, or even notice. I like to ask God to help me see the blessings, to open my eyes to them, and let me see. I think he does...sometimes.

I remember one day sitting on my couch. I was having a very difficult day, one of the worst I can remember. I cannot remember now what it was, but I felt completely empty, broken and finished. Just then, my ipod and dock turned itself on and started playing a song. A melody so calming and soothing drew me in, and I felt I knew the song, yet didn't. A wave of peace and comfort rushed over me and I sobbed as I listened. The song was "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. I didn't even know that was on my ipod. But I remembered when I had heard it before. My cousin, Jana, had played it for me when I was in a coma, placing her headphones in my ears. She had told me that weeks before, but I had not remembered until then. I know it sounds impossible for an ipod dock to turn itself on, but it never did that before, and it never did again. I believe that was God's way of lifting me up when I could not do it alone.

Another time, I was having another frustrating, teary, low kind of day. I missed my old life and was thinking about how hard recovery had been, and how walking with blisters on the bottom of my legs was absolutely disheartening and painful and I was so tired of everything. That day, a package came in the mail from an old dear friend, Rhonda Parrish. It was a figurine of a woman holding a lantern out in front of her. The note in the package, her precious words, and scripture she sent me told the story of being a light in the darkness. It was then I knew that God wanted me to be a light for others who did not know Him. I cried. I knew this blessing had been sent to me that day, at that time, for me to know my purpose.

The magnitude of my illness and my long, 3 year recovery has changed me in so many ways.  My life does not center around what I am wearing, which coffee shop I am going to frequent, or any unfortunate past or future circumstances. I am focused on today. I live simply, and try to notice what is going on around me, the beauty of falling snow or a hawk circling beautifully overhead, the friend who just called and made me laugh, a kiss from my littlest one. A good day is a day I can walk, go to the grocery store, play with my guys out in the yard, cook dinner, and give a bath without discomfort. Anything in addition to that is amazing. 

I do not know your circumstance,but I know God cares for you. These blessings are not just reserved for me, they are there for everyone. It is true what I believed when my legs were taken...that God was there..that He would never leave me, and that that he would be with me always. Ask him to help you see the blessings in your life, for your eyes to be opened to what he is doing. Then, look for them. Once you start spotting them, you will see more and more of them. They happen everyday. 

Read Job 33:14-18 and Psalm 145:19

Life’s Mountains
Looking back to the beginning of my recovery from meningitis, everything  I did was a series of incremental steps to regain my independence. I always had a vision of where I was going and what the end result was going to be. I often asked myself what I needed to set as a goal to be able to accomplish something new.

The verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" is what I kept going back to. Sometimes, there were many failed attempts, and it felt overwhelming. 

As I moved forward and was successful, life became a mountain range. I would make it to the top of one mountain, only to see there were 100 more. Discouraged. I would fall and lose my footing, lay there for a bit moaning and whining, pick myself back up and try again. It was slow and agonizing, and frustrating at times.

When people say to me, "I don't know how you do it." I explain that I didn’t do it my myself. I asked God for help and direction. Many times, he used other people to help me.

Cheerleaders. These are a few special people that uplift me, cheer me on, and support my decisions, my thinking out loud, accepting me for me and my abilities that day without judgment that have been there since the beginning (mostly). They can also kick me in the rear when I need it. They are the sunshine when all I can see are clouds

Mentors.  Spiritual mentors in my life, and others who had conquered a similar situation helped my keep going and reminded me I was not alone. Who are the mentors in your life? Are there other types of mentors you need to seek?

Professionals. Doctor, counselors. I have learned that no one is going to manage my health for me. I had  to be proactive, research, ask questions, and do my homework. I have to be open to suggestion, follow through on recommendations.

I can see so many things I have accomplished. Life for everyone is a series of hills, mountains and valleys, rivers and oceans to cross. Take one event, one goal at a time. Visualize it. Break it down into smaller steps and work on the smaller steps first. Now when I am on top of a “mountain” and I look around, I see many mountains behind me, and many before me. I know that God is with me. 

Read Matthew 17:20. What is the mountain in your life right now? Visualize it. Make a list of the steps you need to move forward. Ask for  God’s help, using this scripture in climbing the mountain or moving the mountain that is before you

Bad Things Happen to Good People? 

About 12 years, ago the title of this book caught my eye at Borders. I read it. It helped me through the aftermath of lymphoma. Since then, it has rested quietly and unnoticed on a shelf in my crowded library, until just a month ago.

Robert Schuler's wisdom in his book Good What Happens to Good People When Bad Things Happen is timeless. In Chapter 1, Schuler discusses the book of Job, and states that it was written to "dispel the false notion that bad things only happen to bad people." Also detailed is the story of Jesus and his disciples when they talked about the man that was blind from birth. They asked Jesus if the blind man had sinned, or had his parents sinned. To them, the only two options were that sin had caused his blindess. Jesus responded said neither--that the man was not blind because of his behavior, but so "the glory of God might be revealed." Jesus then healed the man.

This story is uplifting to me. I can rest, knowing that bad things do happen to good people, people who trust God and are faithful. No amount of good in my life can stop unfortunate circumstances. I have know that God loves me and did not cause my illness or amputation. I have often wondered, " Why was I spared? While I will never know the answer, my life is now lived so that people can know a bit more about who God is through my story, to help others hang onto hope. When there wasn't much for me to hang on to, I could see the blessings around me of healthy children, my husband, and the support of countless family and friends

Schuler ends this chapter with two things to remember: We all experience negative, unfortunate things sometimes. It's important to see the blessings that God has already given.

We can look to the Lord in our sufferings. Read Psalm 34 and Psalm 40.

Whose Day Tuesday

Name: Elise D.

Family Stats: 1 amazing husband and three spunky girls

Spiritual Gifts: Leadership, Discernment, Administration

Spiritual Pathway: Worship, Contemplative

Passions: Home remodeling, decorating, organization, gardening

Pet Peeves: 1) winding up garden hoses; 2) touching dirt with bare hands; 3) unhealthy scraggly hair on toddlers

Books That You Love: Pride and Prejudice, Fountain Head, Exodus, Twilight, Harry Potter, The Robe, East of Eden, Gone With the Wind

Can’t Live Without: My husband, my coffee, and my Dewalt cordless drill

Favorite Room In Your House: Girls’ playroom

Favorite Tradition: Don’t have any yet

Memorize-It Monday

Don't be afraid, for I am with you.
Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
~Isaiah 41:10

Guest Speaker-Maggi Pivovar

Guest Speaker: Maggi Pivovar

Family Stats: Married to John for 17 years. Children:Mitchell (15), Blase (14), Ben (9), Grant (6)

Cats: Snoopy and Lily  Dogs: Ranger (sheltie) and Miles (mini aussie)

Spiritual Gifts: Faith, Wisdom, Knowledge, Encouragement, Teaching

Spiritual Pathways: I connect with God most through Christian music. I hear Him best when I am driving by myself, and the car is completely quiet. Faith that has developed over many years keeps me tied to Him daily. Scripture cards I keep on my bedside table keep me focused on particular areas I  struggle with. When I am alone and quiet, I feel most connected to God.

Passions: Sharing my story to encourage others, Mentoring and encouraging others who have experienced similar health related experiences, advocating for meningitis vaccines, watching documentaries about how others love in different cultures around the world, nutrition

Pet peeves: Cups and dishes scattered around the house, computer technical issues, having picky eaters in my home, when my GPS can’t find a signal, being gluten intolerant, televised sports

Secret Shames: Reality tv (I stay up late to watch recorded episodes of the Bachelor, Bachelorette, America’s Supernanny  and others I can’t mention…on a regular basis). I am also addicted to candy and dogs.

Books I love: The Shack, Anything historical fiction or biographies that allow me to step into another woman’s life and world and experience their daily lives

Can’t live without: TV, dogs, Kerastase Nectar Thermique, Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine (My hair is very dry and fizzy without them) Liguid gold, Clinique double face powder, my family and my legs.

Favorite room in my house: My bedroom, because it means it is time to sleep!

Favorite tradition: Every New Year’s Eve, we interview our kids with a series of questions. (favorite things, pet peeves, etc) We share the answers together, read from the journals I keep for them, set goals for the new year as a family and as individuals. It ends up being hilarious and with boys, the conversation always includes all of the funny and silly things they have all done to each other over the years

My family has had a prayer list for the last 20 years. Each family member is assigned a week where everyone in the family prays for them.  It helps us focus prayer on one special person each week because we have a large family. We have seen many, many answers to prayer!